Holiday Entrées

You don't need to be a trained chef to pull off these celebratory dishes. Our expert tips and step-by-step guidance will make them practically foolproof. Whether you're searching for the perfect beef tenderloin, succulent turkey, glazed ham, roasted leg of lamb, or another one of our creative main courses, we have both tried and true recipes as well as fun riffs on classic flavors to bring family favorites to a new level. These spectacular entrées take a starring role in any holiday meal.

You don't need to be a trained chef to pull off these celebratory dishes. Our expert tips and step-by-step guidance will make them practically foolproof. Whether you're searching for the perfect beef tenderloin, succulent turkey, glazed ham, roasted leg of lamb, or another one of our creative main courses, we have both tried and true recipes as well as fun riffs on classic flavors to bring family favorites to a new level. These spectacular entrées take a starring role in any holiday meal.

More

October 25, 2008

1 of 53Photo: Chris Court

Moroccan-Spiced Turkey with Aromatic Orange Pan Jus

Create an unforgettable holiday meal with one of our impressive and incredibly tasty mains, which range from beautifully browned turkeys to pork loin and roasted chicken.

First up is our Moroccan-Spiced Turkey, which has a fragrant spice rub that infuses the turkey with subtle Middle Eastern flavor.

Perfect Beef Tenderloin

Inspired by J. Kenji López-Alt, author of The Food Lab and managing culinary director of Serious Eats, we take a 3-step, 5-ingredient approach to the best holiday roast: First, season, chill, and air-dry the beef overnight to create a flavorful crust; second, slow roast in a low oven to keep it extra juicy; and third, broil a few minutes to brown it. Serve with Board Dressing, Classic Horseradish Cream Sauce, or both. You can build the sauce on the cutting board where you'll carve your roast. Chop, stir, and mound the ingredients. Then rest the cooked roast on the dressing, roll it, and carve it so the roast's juices and the dressing marry.

French Onion Turkey Breast

Guests will swoon—we know we did—over this masterful turkey breast. Caramelized onions become the base for a gravy that tastes like the best French onion soup ever. Don’t fret if the sliced onions overflow from the pan at first; cooked slowly, they will collapse to a fraction of their original volume. The bone keeps the breast meat moist and props up the breast in the pan so it can brown evenly. Save the bone for turkey stock. If you leave the skin on, as shown, it adds 20 calories and 1g sat fat per serving. Serve with our Skillet Green Bean Casserole,Classic Herb Stuffing, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, and Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce.

Tuscan Turkey

Forget dry, tasteless turkey. A rub of roasted garlic and fresh sage permeates every ounce of the bird, while a Dijon and white wine baste locks in moisture for juicy, tender meat. Save the giblets for our Classic Turkey Gravy. If your turkey starts to overbrown after the first hour in the oven, cover loosely with foil, and continue roasting. Remember to let the turkey rest so juices can redistribute and the bird can cool enough to carve.

Smoked Beef Tenderloin

Salting and smoking a tender cut of beef gives it an unrivaled flavor. Prepared horseradish works well here, but try fresh horseradish root if you can find it; look in the produce aisle of your supermarket during the fall and winter. Tailor the heat and tang of this silky sauce to your taste buds by adding more or less horseradish, pepper, and lemon.

Smoky Spatchcocked Turkey

Grill a spatchcocked turkey for a smoky, robust bird that's ready in half the time. We remove the backbone and roast the turkey flat so that every part has access to the heat at the same time. The turkey won't have grill marks (it cooks flesh side up over indirect heat) but will absorb that chargrilled flavor. A smoky spice rub of paprika and ancho chile powder seems fitting for the grill, but you could use any spice combo or minced fresh herbs combined with a couple of tablespoons oil.

Lemon-Thyme Turkey

Turkey pros swear by brining for tender, succulent meat. Line a disposable roasting pan with the brining bag before adding liquid and turkey. If it won't fit in your fridge, nestle in a cooler with ice—the temperature will stay in the safe zone until you're ready to roast. Make sure to pat the bird very dry after brining so the extra liquid doesn’t slow down the roast.

Sage and Garlic-Rubbed Cornish Hens

The highlight of your meal is going to be a bird that's a twist on the classic. Because the hens are roasted spread out flat (called spatchcocking), the Thanksgiving main course is ready in less than an hour. You can't beat that.

Rosemary-Orange Roast Turkey

We like to give the bird a pretty finishing sheen by brushing on savory-sweet marmalade glaze. If you don't like the slightly bitter flavor of marmalade, you can substitute currant jelly for tart, bright flavor. Fresh rosemary brings the flavors of the turkey to life and will make your kitchen smell amazing. With a splash of citrus, this turkey is anything but bland, without being doused in high calorie glazes and sauces.

Classic "Prime" Rib

Salt, pepper, and a rib roast are literally the only ingredients you need for this. Because all the flavor comes from the meat itself and its slow, low-temperature roasting, it's a good idea to splurge on the highest-quality beef you can get (USDA prime grade is hard to find, and expensive, but worth it). The leftovers will make for some of the best roast-beef sandwiches you'll ever have. See more prime rib recipes.

Roasted Chicken with Lemons and Thyme

This recipe comes from the Sephardic Jewish cuisine of Spain and North Africa. A simple seasoning of lemon, paprika, and thyme gives the chicken Mediterranean flavor, and high-temperature roasting ensures beautifully browned skin. An easy gravy made from the drippings completes the dish, making it suitable as a weeknight family meal or as the centerpiece to a small dinner party.

Rosemary Butter-Rubbed Turkey with Porcini Gravy

Penne with Brussels Sprouts and Crisp Bacon

Not every holiday meal has to feature a big hunk of meat at the center of the table. This dish encapsulates fall flavor with steamed Brussels sprouts and crunchy hazelnuts, a creamy Parmesan sauce, and just a little bit of bacon. To make this a vegetarian-friendly entrée, use vegetable broth instead of chicken, and serve the crumbled bacon on the side.

Marsala-Glazed Ham

Any time you cook a 10-pound ham, there are bound to be leftovers. This recipe takes advantage of your extras and is delicious hot or cold, on fine china or on sandwich bread. The marsala-wine glaze gives wonderful color and sweetness to an already impressive presentation.

Maple-Mustard Glazed Fresh Ham

Fresh ham is different from the cured ham you may be used to. It's juicy, full of rich pork flavor, and much less salty—a wonderful special-occasion roast. Serve with Brussels sprouts and mashed sweet potatoes.

Roast Turkey with Truffle Gravy

High-heat roasting makes this bird browned and beautiful, and truffle-scented homemade gravy makes it an extra-special treat. The holidays are a time for indulgence, and since this recipe calls for only a few ingredients, use the best quality you can.

Apple-Poblano Whole Roast Turkey

This roast turkey variation is both sweet and spicy, just the thing to keep your guests on their toes. Poblano peppers and flavors from whole apples and cider give new meaning to a holiday classic. A hint of Southwest spice and chile heat blend with sweet apples for a crowd-pleasing change from traditional turkey, but still staying true to the season's staples. Ensure that you start ahead of time so that you can brine the turkey for at least 12 hours.

Easy Coq au Vin

Savory reigns supreme in this quick recipe that looks like it took hours of slaving in the kitchen to prepare. Garnish the top with a little fresh parsley right before serving with noodles, rice or boiled potatoes.

Pork Tenderloin Agrodolce

The deep rich colored sauce is full of sour-sweet savor that comes from vinegar, cherries, and cipollini onions. For a wine pairing, try Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2007, il vino "dal tralcetto". It keeps up with both the sweet and sour notes in this dish.

Apple and Cranberry Turkey Roulade

Prepare the filling, stuff the tenderloins, roll, and tie them a day ahead. Let them stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking. You won't need any cranberry sauce, as the sweet and savory apple-cranberry stuffing does double duty. If you can't find turkey tenderloins, use skinless, boneless turkey breast halves.

Rabbit à la Moutard

Rabbit is becoming more popular and accessible across the country. Look for it at specialty markets or sometimes frozen in supermarkets. You can also order online from dartagnan.com. Cook the egg noodles as the rabbit finishes simmering.

Quick Cassoulet

In its most simple state, a cassoulet is a slow-simmering bean dish with little bits of meat or sausage. A mixture of meat adds depth, and the medley of sausages here (versus traditional large hunks of slow-cooking meats) speeds up the cook time without sacrificing flavor. Look for D'Artagnan sausages at specialty stores, or order online from dartagnan.com. Open some great red wine, and chase this course with a bitter green salad.

Maple-Brined Turkey Breast with Mushroom Pan Gravy

Because you’re starting with a boneless cut, the brining time is much shorter than if using a whole bird. That makes this meal a great choice for an impromptu holiday gathering that still warrants an impressive dish.

Leg of Lamb with Roasted Pear and Pine Nut Relish

A sweet sauce is common with roast leg of lamb, but this one has so much more depth of flavor than the traditional mint jelly. And the crunchy pine nuts add depth of texture as well. The lamb itself gets loads of flavor from marinating overnight in a lemon-spice-onion mixture before cooking.

Garlic and Herb Standing Rib Roast

Large bone-in roasts always make holiday meals feel special. This one, with only seven ingredients, is easy as can be. About 2 hours of roasting yields medium-rare perfection with a crusty exterior that will elicit oohs and aahs when you slice it at the table.

Slow-Roasted Salmon with Bok Choy and Coconut Rice

Salmon is a common entrée at Hanukkah meals, because many traditional dishes feature dairy ingredients, which kosher dietary laws prohibit mixing with red meat or poultry. This Asian-flavored fish dish is extra tender from long, low-temperature cooking, and is matched perfectly by the creamy rice and crisp stir-fried bok choy.

Roasted Chicken with Asiago Polenta and Truffled Mushrooms

The name sounds like something you'd find in a three-star restaurant, and the finished dish lives up to the name. Wonderfully creamy polenta and deeply earthy mushrooms complement a simply flavored roast chicken that's juicy and delicious. This dish is perfect for smaller gatherings where a whole turkey or roast would just be too much.

Pork Loin with Olivada, Spinach, and Rice Stuffing

This is one of the best ways to prepare pork loin. Overnight brining ensures a tender and juicy end result, and flavors the meat all the way through. Rolled around a delicious stuffing piquant with kalamata olives, the final product is beautiful as well.

Roasted Garlic and Butternut Squash Cassoulet

Our variation on the classic French wintertime dish uses meaty squash for body, rendering it much more healthful than the original. Though not as traditional as a turkey, ham, or roast, this is a great main course for a smaller holiday gathering or intimate dinner party.

Turkey with Sausage, Apricot, and Sage Stuffing

Roasted turkey is an absolute must for any Thanksgiving, so if you're looking to shake things up a bit, the stuffing is a better place to start. Savory sausage (try hot Italian sausage if you like spicy) and sage, an herb that just tastes like Thanksgiving in any application, get a kick in the pants from sweet dried apricot, which provides contrast in both flavor and texture. Cooking the stuffing inside the turkey suffuses the meat with a subtle sage-and-apricot scent, but if you're uncomfortable doing that, just cook it in a separate pan.

Homemade Turkey Broth

Remove the turkey liver from the giblets so your broth won’t become bitter. Freeze any extra broth, and use it in soups, stews, and sauces. Rich, full-flavored, and worth the effort, homemade broth or stock makes a good dish great.

Roast Turkey with Sage Pan Gravy

Oil-Basted Parmesan Turkey with Walnut Gravy

Nine ingredients (not counting salt, pepper, and cooking spray) come together for a grand holiday centerpiece with deep nutty essence from toasted walnut oil and chopped nuts. Let your turkey come to room temperature before it goes in the oven; it will cook more evenly and more quickly.

Foolproof Brined Turkey

Brining a turkey is well worth the day-ahead time investment. It removes all guesswork, producing an incredibly moist bird that's more forgiving of being slightly overcooked. If you can't find an organic turkey, look for a fresh one without "added solution."